Rude to Open Gifts during Party

[Etiquetteworry]

AIBU to think it's rude to open gifts during a party? I've been to two 4 year olds birthday parties recently and at each one the birthday child was made to sit down by their parents and open all the gifts in the middle of the party. At one the mum had a big notebook out writing down who gave what. I found it rude, AIBU? Is this normal party protocol?

I don’t think it’s rude but it’s not very exciting for everyone else attending. So I would leave it until later.

I’ve been to kids parties where the child has opened everything and criticised what they’ve been given or asked “is that it?” Before tearing into the next one. Makes my toes curl. One I went to, the little girl was pushed into tearing through them by a friend and she tried to say thank you as she went but if she paused the other kid started opening the next one. The brat’s mum was sat next to her and was egging her on DD refused to hand over her gift until the birthday girl was able to take it herself and when brat tried to grab it I ended up reprimanding her by saying “dd is giving it to birthday girl so she’d like birthday girl to be able to open it herself”. The brat let her do it herself and has avoided me like the plague in the playground ever since so I chalk that up as a win

Mine gets to open hers after we’re home so I can sit with my pad and take notes. We don’t generally do thank you cards but every person gets a wee video message thanking them for whatever particular present they gave.

I mostly opened the presents towards the end of the party as a prelude to handing out party bags.
I see why some might find it a bit rude, but then I also am in the camp of showing gratitude while guests are there.

I think it depends on who you are and who’s at the party. We’re not especially British and not are most of our circle, with most of our chums opening presents during their parties as well.

I think if we were with some other people we’d wait, iyswim.

Thankfully, DS has the manners of an aristo
(how, I’ll never know) so he was always delighted with whatever he got, even when he got duplicates.
DD, OTOH...

There is no way my kids would be able to leave a pile of gifts unopened until the end of the party. And the givers like to see them opened too.

I remember being surprised as an adult when my friends' daughter didn't open presents at her party. But there were probably too many for it to be practical. We had small parties when I was little so always opened them. It's a big thing in our family to share the opening experience.

I grew up in the UK and we opened presents at parties! Was considered rude and as if you didn't care not to. Although it may have been more like as you got them rather than one big session.

When I give people gifts I like to watch them open them. That’s the joy of gift giving isn’t it? Otherwise it just seems like the giving of gifts is some sort of formality

Exactly.

Exactly! I actually think removing presents is rude.

We tend to open presents on arrival as people trickle in kids are all interested in the presents and can offer tips on their gifts and get to see recipient open it it’s a nice party intro.

When I was growing up (not in UK), we all sat down and opened the presents. My mother wrote down who gave what and that list was used for thank you cards.

When I moved here to UK and had children, first few parties we did this (as was norm when I was growing up). However, after being present at other children’s parties with my DC and saw this wasn’t done, I no longer organised this at my DC parties. Felt sad about it.

No birthday child in all my years growing up made any rude comments about the gifts received though. I would think a birthday child would be told and know quite quickly that it’s rude to do that.

We definitely opened them at parties in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s as I remember my mum drilling into me that if it was something you already had you were NOT to say "I've got that one" but smile and say thank you.

I remember the opening of presents at birthday parties. But only if it was a village hall type party. Then it sir if stopped at a certain age. Then started again when the parties became smaller sleepover type things

MissMooMoo
I am Canadian and its considered rude NOT to open the presents at the party
This is def a British custom to wait until afterwards

No it most definitely isn't!! The British custom is to open gifts immediately upon receipt! It is very rude to whisk them away with hardly any acknowledgement and then not even open them! That is very hurtful to the giver.